The Beijing municipal government passed an environmental protection plan on Nov. 8, pledging to cut the average density of PM2.5 in Beijing by 30 percent in five years. According to this plan, the average density would be reduced to 56 micrograms per cubic meter by 2020.

The Plan for Environmental and Ecological Protection, drafted for the 13th Five-Year Plan period, proposes that the total volume of major air and water pollutants in Beijing be continually decreased. It aims to raise the ratio of days with fair to good air quality to over 56 percent by 2020.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the renovation of heat-providing facilities will be accelerated, transforming coal-burning facilities into ones that use gas, electricity and solar energy. The plan also aims to increase the ratio of quality clean energies to 90 percent or above. Moreover, Beijing plans to speed up the release of low-emission vehicles into the market. Water consumption will also be limited to 4.3 billion cubic meters by 2020.